Oil saver



Mar. 3, 1925.

P. WEAVER OIL f SAVER Filed oct. 6. 1922 2- Sheets-Sheet l Mar. 3, 1925. 1,528,354

` P. WEAVER y,

y oIL SAVER Filed Oct. 6, 1922 Z-Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 3, 1925.

PAUL WEAVER, F TAMPICO, MEXICO.

OIL SAVER.

Application led October 6, 1922. Serial No. 592,679;

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, PAUL TIL-ivan, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Aguila Colony, Tampico, Mexico, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oil Savers, of which the following is a specification.

In the drilling of wells for oil, gas or water, there are sometimes encountered sudden flows of liquids which prevent the extraction of drilling tools and/or cause sudden Hows at the surface of inflammable gas or oil which may spontaneously ignite at the surface due to the friction of sand or rock accompanying the gas or oil. Even though these results do notoccasion the loss of the drilling well, discomfort to workers due to toxic gas and delay due to the inrush of sand, clay and rock into the drilling well,

cause financial losses and many times prevent the deepening of a well. The stratum in which the sudden flow (known as a blow-out) occurs, may vcontain water, gas

or oil under high pressure but not always r in commercial quantities, which latter may be found by continuing the drilling deeper.

The prevention of the deepening of the well may prevent the completion of the well as a commercial success. 3U The principal object of my invention is to provide apparatus to overcome the above objections. In accordance with the above object my improved apparatus is adapted (l) to close the opening by which pressure in thewell can release to the atmosphere and (2) to permit operation of tools while maintaining the pressure confined.

Other objects, features and advantages of my invention will appear more fully 1n the following detailed description and appended claims.

The accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification illustrate certain embodiments of my invention.

' In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a general arrangement of drilling well apparatus above the surface of the ground and including one embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same embodimentexcept that a tool supporting rod is employed instead of aI tool supporting cable.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 at right angles to Fig. 2.

lll

Fig. 4 is a view similar to the upper portion of Fig. 2 of an embodiment of my invention adapted for the rotary, hydraulic and diamond systems of drilling in which the cutting slice is made to rotate at thel same time as it is made to move vertically.

As shown in the drawings, my improved apparatus is arranged at the mouth of the top joint of the well casing or conduit. Referring to Fig. 1, the outer casing l has secure to the top thereof a device 2 such, for example, as shown in U. S. patent 1,389,920, dated September 6, 1921, for closing the space between the. outer and inner casings and securelyholding the inner casing below the uppermost section thereof so as to permit ready detachment of that section, all as fully described in the said patent. Carried by an extension 3 of the outer casing is a valve 4 which is adapted to close the upper end of the outer casing when it is not obstructed by the inner casing. A control valve 5 is secured upon the inner section near the upper end thereof The apparatus which more particularly forms the subject of this invention is arranged, as shown, above the top well head clamp 6 and will scribed.

The gland 8 is threaded into the upper end of the top section of the inner casing or secured to that section in any other suitable manner. The upper end of the gland 8 is provided with a ground joint 9 into which a hollow casing or bushing 10 fits, the inner surface of the lower end of the casing 10 being preferably of the' same diameter as or greater diameter than the inner surface of the gland 8. The casing l0 is provided with lateral openings 11 and 12 into which relief valve pipes are adapted to be secured, which pipes may also be used for forcing fluid under pressure into the casing. rlhe casing 10 as shown in Fig. l is secured in pressure tight relation tothe gland 8 by means of a clamp 14 which is fastened to the clamp 6 by wire lines 15, 16 or other holding means of such resistance or strength as to maintain the gland and casing in fluid tight contact against certain predetermined operative pressures inside the casing but to break and permit the bushing or casing 10 to rise detached from the gland 8 when the pressure against it from below is greater.' The pressure at now be more fully dewhich the connecting members 15, 16, will sever should be less than an amount which would cause the tool to be disconnected from its support in case it `struck the'top of the apparatus but somewhat greater than the Huid pressure apt to be found in the closed well casing. For example,l the members 15, 16 might be arranged to sever by a pressure inside the casing of about 1.500 lbs. per square inch.

The top of the casing 10 as shown in Fig. 2 containsA a light internally kthreaded ring 17 which is held in place by set screws 18. Threaded within' the ring 17 is an adjusting ring 19. The latter is as shown flush with the interior upper portion of the casing 10 and it has at the top thereof an inclined surface 20 which is ground or otherwise finished so as to form a tight joint with the inclined surface 21 on the cover member 22. The member 19 forms a seat for the cover which is adjustable for certain purposes which will appear more fully hereinafter.

f The cover member as shown includes lower and upper flanges 22 and 24 secured together as by bolts 25. The lower flange 22 carries a flange 25 depending below the seat 21. rI"he flange 25 as shown is cylindrical, the innersurface thereof being sub` stantially flush with the inner surface of the lower portion of the casing lmember 10, the upper portion of the said member being enlarged to receive the flange 26. The said flange is provided with a plurality of transverse openings 27 through which locking or fastening members, such as the dogs 28, are adaptedto slide transversely into or out of locking engagement with the annular groove 29 on the inner surface of the caslng member 10. For moving thefdogs 28 into and out of engagement with the locking groove 29 I provide a cam member 30 which is preferably in the form of a sleeve containing an inclined cam groove 31 for each of the dogs, this groove containing an enlarged inner portion 31 in which the enlarofement or head 28 of the dog fits for sli ing movement. adapted to move vertically when the tools push it from below, thereby imparting a horizontal inward motion to the dogs which lare held against vertical motion by the walls of the openings 27. The vertical motion of the tools is accordingly' translated to a horizontal movement of the 'dogs which results in an unlocking of the cover without objectionable jar. Thejinner diameter of the member 30 is made sulliciently large so that this member is not engaged by the tool support during the normal operation of drilling and accidental release is thereby prevented. The top of the guide 30 has secured to it a cover 32'which prevents the guide from falling downwardly out of engagement with the dogs, into the well.

The dog guide 30 is- Bumpers 33 for the vertically movable dog guide are preferably secured to the bottom of the top flange of the cover.

My invention also `includes means whereby the do s or fastening means may be set or release from without the apparatus and independently of the tool or its support. Passing through the cover and connected at their lower ends to the guide 30, 32 are rods 34 which are pivoted at their upper ends to the lever 35, one end of which, as shown, is connected by a `link 36 to the top of the casing. By operating the lever 35 the guide 30 can be shifted to set the dogs into operative position or to release the same manually from without the casing. For convenience in assembling the rods 34 in operative relation to the cover 32, the lower end of each rod 34 is provided with an olfset portion 34 which lits in a recess 32 in the cover 32. By turning the rods 34 out of these recesses the extensions 34 may be brought into alignment with slots which pass through the cover 32 to permit the rods to be raised relatively above the said cover out of engagement therewith. By reversing these operations, the rods 34 and cover 32 can be assembled or set into operative relation to each other. To permit convenient rotation of the rods 34 to the above end there is secured to each of them-an operating Hror setting handle 39. Stalling boxes 38 are preferably employed to produce a fluid tight joint between the rods 34and the cover member through which the said rods slide.

The cover has secured to the top thereof, as-shown, apaeking head comprising a cylindrical body 40 containing a suitable packing material, a follower 41 and a cap 42 for securing the follower in position. By this Ieans the reciprocating movement of the tool .support is permitted without loss of pressure within the casing.

In Fig. 1 I have shown instead of a tool Asupporting rod a cable or rope 45 to which is secured, as understood in the art, a polish rod 46, this rod reciprocating through the packing head at the top of the apparatus so as to maintain the pressure within the casing and also obviating objectionable wear which would result if the rough cable or rope engaged the packing.

It will be seen that should the dogs 28 become somewhat worn a looseness in the apparatus may be obviated by a simple adjustment of the ring 19.

From the foregoing it will be seen that lll() lll) the apparatus is adapted to close in and maintainy the pressure inside the drilling well casing while the drilling tool is being operated in drilling. The pressure may be maintained inside the well up to the time when the drilling tools which are being withdrawn come into contact with the guide 30 whereupon further elevation of the tools causes the cover to be released, permitting extraction of the tools without suspension of the operation of withdrawing and without objectionable jar or danger to the equipment. In case the dogs are not automatically released by the tools, elevation of the lat-ter causes the severance of the members l5 and 16 thereby permitting `the` removal of the tools from the casing. I have found that the apparatus is positive and not released byvibration or changes in pressure incident/to the process of drilling. The apparatus is free from springs or other devices which suffer deterioration with age or in operation.

lVhile reference has heretofore been made to drilling, it is understood that the apparatus is adapted for any operation to be carried on inside or below the casing in a well and which requires the maintaining of pressure inside the casing or which would be facilitated by maintaining such pressure even if it were not necessary and incident to the work in hand.

In the hydraulic, rotary or diamond systems of drilling a. packing head such as described above might not be desirable about the tool supporting pipe inasmuch as this pipe rotates horizontally in addition to moving iv'ertically so that excessive friction might result in the normal drilling. Furthermore, the use of such pipe occasions many couplings, usually one. every twenty feetlengfhwise of the pipe, which coupling must pass downwardly from outside to inside the casing. For this system of drilling I may to advantage secure to the cover, as shown in Fig. l, a device 50 such as shown in the said Patent 1,389,920, this device as shown being supported by a pipe section 51 secured to and projecting above the cover member 2l. By means of this apparatus a fluid closure may he readily produced about the tool supporting pipe while the apparatus is at the same time capable of easy enlargement of the internal diameter so as to permit the passage of the coupling for the tool supporting pipe.

IVhile I have shown certain preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I am not limited to same. l

lVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. Apparatus for closing in and maintaining the pressure inside the drilling well casing and permitting the drilling tool to be operated in drilling, said apparatus comprising a cover, releasable fastening means therefor arranged on the inside of the apparatus, and means operable from the exterior of the apparatus and independently of the tool or its support for operating said fastening means. .2

2. Apparatus for closing 1n and maintaining the pressure inside the drilling well casing and permitting the drilling tool to be operated in drilling, said apparatus comprising a cover, a plurality of releasablc fastening means therefor arranged within the cover and means operable from the exterior of the apparatus and independently of the tool or its support for operating said fastening means simultaneously.

3. Apparatus for closing in and maint-aining the pressure inside the drilling well casing and permitting the drilling tool to be operated in drilling, said apparatus comprising a cover, fastening means therefor automatically releasable by the tool on the withdrawal thereof, and operating means whereby said fastening means may be operated from without the casing and apparatus independently of the tool or its support.

4. Apparatus for use in connection with a well and comprising a casing, a cover therefor provided with a depending flange, fastening' means for said cover coacting with said flange, means including a movable cam sleeve for automatically releasing said fastening means by the Withdrawal of the tool. and means coacting with said sleeve for operating the same, said last-named mean.` including an operating member arranged outside of the apparatus.

5. Apparatus for use in connection with a well and comprising a casing, a cover therefor provided with a depending flange. fastening means for said cover coacting with` said flange, means including a movable cam sleeve for automatically7 releasing said fastening means by the withdrawal of the tool. and means coacting with said sleeve for operating the same, said last-named means including an operating lever arranged outside of the apparatus.

6. Apparatus for closing in and maintaining the pressure inside the drilling well casing and permitting the drilling tool to bioperated in drilling. said apparatus including a cover provided with a seat and a depending cylindrical flange below said seat. fastening means for said cover coactingv with said flange and spaced from said seat. and a hollow cylindrical cam sleeve guided b v said flange and operable by the tool for automatically releasing said fastening means` 7. Apparatus for closing in and maintaining the pressure inside the drilling well casing and permitting the drilling tool to be operated in drilling, said apparatus comprising a cover for the casing, coacting locking means carried by said cover and said casing, and cooperating seats on the cover and casing, one cooperating pair of said seats and locking means being relatively adjustable.

8. Apparatus for use in connection with a well and comprisin a casing, a cover therefore provided Wit a depending flange of substantially the same internal cross section as said casing, fastening means for said cover slidable transversely through said flange and means including a cam 4sleeve guided by said flange and operable by the tool for automatically releasing said fastening means, said releasing means being normally out of contact with the tool or its support.

9. Apparatus for closing in and maintaining the pressure inside the drilling well casing and ypermittimg the drilling too-l to be operated in drilling, said apparatus comprising a cover, fastening means therefor normally automatically releasable by the tool upon the Withdrawal thereof and securing means for said apparatus adapted to be rendered inoperative to permit Withdrawal ofthe tool upon failure of said fastening means to be released bv the attempted Withdrawal of the tool.

10. Apparatus for closing in and maintaining the pressure inside the drilling Well` casing and permitting the drilling tool to be operated in drilling, said apparatus comprising a cover, fastening means therefor normally automatically releasable by a toiol upon the Withdrawal thereof and securing,

means for said apparatus including means adapted to be broken bv a predetermined force applied by the tool whereby the tool may be Withdrawn upon failure of said fastening means to -be released by the attempted withdrawal of the tool.

llfApparatus for closing in and maintaining the pressure inside the drilling Well casing and permitting the drilling tool to be operated in drilling, said apparatus comprising a cover, fastening means therefor normally automatically releasable by a tool upon the withdrawal thereof and securing means for said apparatus including a Wire or the like adapted to' be broken by a predetermined force applied by the tool Whereby the tool may be Withdrawn upon failure of said fastening means to be released by the attempted Withdrawal of the tool.

12. Apparatus for closingr in and maintaining the pressure inside the drilling well casing while the drilling tool is being 0perated in drilling, said apparatus comprising a cover, fastening means therefor autotening means for said cover coacting With 4 said flange, means including a movable cani sleeve operable by the tool on the Withdrawal thereof for automatically releasing said fastening means, means coacting with said sleeve for operating the same, said lastnamed means including an operating lever arranged outside of the apparatus, a member connecting said lever and sleeve and passing through the apparatus and means for maintaining a fluid tight joint around said member. 4

14. Apparatus for closing in and maintaining the pressure inside the drilling wel] casing and permitting the drilling tool to be operated in drilling, said apparatus comprising a hollow casing, a cover therefor, means fory releasably securing said cover to said casing, and a cover seat coacting with said means and cover and adj ustable'to compensate for wear. I 15. Apparatus used 1n drilllng Wells 1n` which a vertical conduit or casing has been inserted, said apparatus being arranged to close in and maintain the pressure inside the casing and comprising a cover. releasable means for fastening the cover in position, means passing from the exterior to the interior of said apparat-us for operating said fastening means, means for producing a fluid tight joint about said operating means, a tool, supporting means for said tool having a part With a smooth exterior passing through said cover, and means adapted to form a fluid tight joint .about saidpart.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

PAUL WEAVER. 

